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Main Events: Penguins-Devils,
Sports Illustrated hockey writer Kostya Kennedy checks in each Thursday with a look ahead to intriguing weekend matchups. To send a question or comment, click here. Parity held in the Eastern Conference all year long, so it's no wonder three of the playoff series are deadlocked at 2-2 going into the weekend. A few splits and we're looking at three first-round Game 7s -- which would provide plenty of the tension and anticipation we hope for all season. A brief look at the three series, all of which will unfold on Friday and Sunday. Pittsburgh at New Jersey, Friday, April 30, 7:30 p.m.
ET
If the Penguins don't get past this round, will Sunday's be the last game ever in Pittsburgh? The NHL is getting antsy about the Penguins' bankruptcy situation and if it isn't resolved, there's a possibility the club could be dissolved. That would mean the dispersion of players, including Jaromir Jagr , whom the Pens have done amazingly well without in winning Games 2 and 3. Jagr, nursing a groin injury (we think "groin injury" can be NHL speak for: We're not telling you what's wrong) skated on Thursday and made the trip to New Jersey. If he returns to the ice and is able to skate with anything like his usual ferocity, the Devils will be in danger of their second consecutive first-round playoff ouster. It says here that New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur won't let that happen, though the pesky Pens could well send this to a Game 7 on Tuesday. Boston at Carolina, Friday, April 30, 7:30 p.m.
ET
Carolina has been splendid despite injuries to key forwards Ron Francis and Sami Kapanen and this series has been far more entertaining than anyone anticipated. Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford has assembled a team of determined veterans ( Gary Roberts , Kevin Dineen et al.) who are not going to let a chance to get into the second round die easily. And Ray Sheppard -- that slow footed, supple-wristed scorer -- has displayed his wonderful knack for the net with a conference-leading four goals in the playoffs. Will all of that be enough to hold off the Bruins? They still have an ebullient cast of forwards and a much superior defense led by Ray Bourque . Boston's 4-1 win Wednesday threatens to swing the momentum decidedly to the Bruins unless Keith Primeau can take over a game for the 'Canes. Primeau is a player to watch, as is Bruins' goalie Byron Dafoe , who over the past two seasons has developed into one of the game's most underrated keepers. Philadelphia at Toronto, Friday, April 30, 7 p.m.
ET
Philadelphia has been taking the game hard to Toronto and, even without Eric
Lindros , has clearly been the better team. The Flyers' forwards had great
success going to the net in their 5-2 win on Wednesday night and look for them
to keep going there for the rest of the series. Goalie Curtis Joseph is
the Maple Leafs' greatest playoff asset and the best way for the big bad Flyers
to undermine him is to crowd around the crease. While Philadelphia should
continue to dominate physically, Toronto is always capable of stealing wins
because of Joseph's ability to bar the net and because the Leafs' talented
snipers can take advantage of small Flyers' miscues and score quickly -- as they
did at the end of Game 2. For the pure hockey fan, this is the best of the three
series to
watch.
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